Ambassador of Vietnam to Qatar H E Nguyen Huy Hiep, Acting Head of Communications and Outreach Section-Fire Station Abdullah Ahmad Darmani with Their Excellencies Ambassadors of Asean countries during the reception yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Relations between Qatar and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are entering a new phase of cooperation, supported by growing economic engagement, high-level exchanges and expanding partnerships across strategic sectors, Ambassador of Vietnam to Qatar H E Nguyen Huy Hiep said.
The Ambassador, who is also Chair of the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD), was speaking at the Asean Reception 2026 hosted by the committee at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay yesterday to mark the 59th Asean Day under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together”. The event was attended by ambassadors from Asean countries, diplomats, and officials.
Highlighting the occasion’s significance, Ambassador Hiep said 2026 was a particularly meaningful year for Asean, following Timor-Leste’s admission as the association’s 11th member state last year. The development reflected Asean’s continued evolution as a more inclusive and integrated regional community.
Asean now represents a market of more than 680 million people, with a combined gross domestic product of approximately $3.9 trillion. Beyond its economic weight, the grouping continues to pursue a resilient, innovative and people-centred community founded on dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect.
Turning to Asean-Qatar relations, the Ambassador described 2026 as an important year for the partnership, particularly following Qatar’s becoming an Asean Sectoral Dialogue Partner. The milestone has opened a new chapter in cooperation and builds on Qatar’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2022.
He said the partnership had steadily expanded into areas including energy, connectivity, education, humanitarian assistance, investment and sustainable development.
“Our relations are also strengthened by growing high-level exchanges and increasingly substantive economic cooperation,” Ambassador Hiep said, noting that annual trade between Asean and Qatar is approaching $15bn.
Businesses and investors from both sides are also exploring opportunities in a wide range of sectors, including energy, aviation, agribusiness, healthcare, hospitality, telecommunications, fintech, digital innovation and investment.
The Ambassador said Asean highly valued its growing partnership with Qatar and appreciated the country’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation in the region.
Against the backdrop of continuing challenges and tensions in the Middle East, he reaffirmed Asean’s commitment to dialogue, restraint, respect for international law and peaceful diplomatic solutions.
“As a country directly affected by recent regional developments, Qatar has demonstrated the importance of responsible diplomacy and dialogue in addressing complex challenges,” he said, adding that Asean remained ready to contribute to an environment conducive to peace, stability and cooperation.
The reception also provided an opportunity to look beyond achievements and reflect on the shared future that Asean and Qatar could help build. In this context, the Asean Committee in Doha chose environmental protection and the creation of a green, clean and beautiful living environment as the theme of this year’s celebration.
Ambassador Hiep said recycled-material architectural models displayed by Asean embassies conveyed a clear message that environmental protection was a shared responsibility requiring the participation of governments, businesses, communities and individuals.
For Asean, sustainability and climate resilience are increasingly inseparable from economic development, regional connectivity and the well-being of its people. Economic growth, he stressed, must create opportunities while preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.
Looking ahead, he said there were significant opportunities for Asean and Qatar to translate this shared vision into practical cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, green technologies, sustainable infrastructure, smart cities, digital transformation, food and agriculture, and other fields supporting sustainable growth.
